Casting apparatus.



No. 790,545. PATENTED MAY 23, 1905. W. s. WESTON.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 12, 1904.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N l i Wit K8035): I I v jihygntbr;

W W W PATENTED MAY-23, 1905. W. S. WESTON.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, 12, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mg if TnnnP] mom unmnnunn: IV emu wnnurw mm: I n "umm.

W. S. WESTON.

CASTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 13160.12, 1904.

PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

{SHEETS-SHEET a.

taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

' UNITED STATES- Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT "OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. WESTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,545, dated May 23, 1905.

' Application filed December 12,1904. Serial No- 236,428.

To all whom, it may concern- Beit known that I, WILLIAM S. WESTON, a citizenof the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casting Apparatus, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of casting apparatus in which the casting is effected by means of a plurality of movable molds that are formed of separable sections arranged to be brought together to receive the fluid metal to be cast and adapted to be separated or opened in order to discharge the finished castings.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification. v

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view in vertical section through one of the molds, its carrier and adjacent parts, the section being Fig. 5 is aninside view in side elevation of one section of the mold (the left-hand section in Fig. 4) in position upon its carrier. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the opposite mold-section and its carrier. Fig; 7 is a detail plan view of a mold in position upon its carrier-section. Fig. 8 is a view in horizontal section on line 8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9, Fig. 9,

and Fig. 9 show, respectively, a top plan, a side elevation, and a bottom plan of a brakeshoe adapted to be formed by the molds illustrated in the drawings. view showing in vertical section on line 10 10 of Fig. 1 one of the link-supports ordnums at the receiving end of the machine and parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 11 is an outside elevation of amodified form of mold. Fig. 12 is'a viewin elevation showing the inner face of one of the modified mold-sections. Fig. 13

Fig. 10 is a detailis a plan View of the modified mold. Fig. 14 is a view in horizontalsection on line 14 14 of Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is an end view of mold shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a view in vertical section on line 16 16 of Fig. 11. Fig. 17 is a View in vertical section on line 17 17 of Fig. 11.

The main frame of the apparatus is shown as comprising side beams or girders A, that are united together by the cross-beams A, that are riveted to the side beams, as by anglebars a. A are bolted, as at Z), the cross bars or frames B, these bars or frames being preferably of the shape shown more particularly in Figs.- 2 and 3 of the drawings. Upon the tops of each of the side beams A are bolted adjacent each of its ends the front and rear journal-posts O and O, the bolts 0 of these journal-posts passing through the top flanges of the side frames. Upon the journal-post O at the front end of the machinefshown at the left-hand in Fig. 1) are journaled the drums D, the construction of which is preferably that illustrated in the drawingstl.at is to say, each of these drums D is formed with an elongated hub to afford a broad bearing for the drum upon the corresponding journal-post and with a rim OZ, forming a bearing for the links of the mold-carrying chain, and with an outer bearing portion cl, having seatsd to receive the pivot-pins of the chain-links, and with'a bottom guideflange (Z affording bearings for the moldcarriers as they pass around the drum. Adjacent each of the drums D at the front end of the machine is mounted a mold-guide E, and preferably these mold-guides E are fixed to the upper ends of the corresponding journal-posts O, as shown. The guides E are formed with the curved guiding edges athe function of which will presently appear.

Upon the journal-posts O at the opposite end of the machine are mounted the drums 612, the construction of these drums, as shown, being the same as that of the drums at the front end of the machine. Around the pair of drums D and D at each side of the machine pass the mold-carrier chains that are formed of links F. the perforated ends of which are pivotally united by'the pins f.

Upon the top flanges of the side beams able bolts g As shown, the pins f not only pass through the ends of the links F, but are sufliciently long to pass through the bifurcated shanks r of each of the mold-carriers G, these arms ,0 of the mold-carriers being arranged above and below the ends of the links F, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. One of the arms 9 of each of the mold-carrier shanks is formed with a projecting portion 9, adapted to engage with the guides E of the front end of the machine, as will presently more fully appear. Preferably each of the moldcarriers G has an inwardly-extending base portion g on which sets the corresponding moldsection H or H, these mold-sections being secured to their respective carriers G by suit- As shown, each of the moldcarriers G is provided upon its bottom with a rack-bar 91, adapted to be engaged by a driving-pinion J, (see Fig. 2,) this drivingpinion having a face of sufficient width to engage the racks g of two abutting mold-earriers. The pinion J is mounted upon acoun- .ter-shafty, that is JOHIIlZtlGCl in bearings bolted to the top of the side frames A, and the shaft is connected by a gear-wheel with a pinion is upon the main drive-shaft K, that is journaled in bearings L and 7:: on the side plates of the main frame and is provided at one end with a suitable drive-pulley 715. (See Fig. l.)

Upon the standards B of each of the crossframes B are bolted the cross-bars M, and beneath these cross-bars M extend the upper guide-bars N, that are bolted to the cross-bars M. The guide-bars N are preferably of angular shape or flanged to engage both the tops and sides of the mold-sections, and the front ends of the guide-bars N are flared outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, to better receive the mold-sections as they pass around the drums D. Beneath the upper guide-bars N and parallel thereto extend the lower guidebars 0, that are bolted to the cross-frames B, the cross frames being preferably formed with raised flanges b to more securely hold the guide-bars in position. (See Fig. 3.) Upon the tops of the upper guide-bars N extends a cover P, that is preferably formed of a plurality of plates that are bolted, as at p, to guide-bars N. The metallic plates forming the coverPhave their under side provided with a channel p, preferably formed with crossribs 10 (see Fig. 2,) this channel being filled with a suitable refractory material such, for example, as a mixture of pl umbago and clay that will be placed in the channels of the plates P while in plastic condition. From the central eover-plate P rises a hopper R, adapted to receive the molten metal from which the castings will be formed, and preferably the base of this hopper R will be formed with a narrow elongated opening 2 through which the fluid metal will pass to the molds. The

hopper 9* will be lined with suitable refractory material, and the lower end of its dischargeopening will coincide with the parting-line of the mold-sections beneath it.

In the accompanying drawings .1. have shown the mold-sections as especially designed for the rapid casting of railway brake-shoes, and I will next describe the construction of the mold-sections adapted for this purpose, although it will be understood, of course, that without departing from the spirit of the invention necessary modifications may be made in the mold-sections when designed for other forms of casting. The particular form of brake-shoe for which the mold-sections shown are especially adapted is illustrated in Figs. 9, 9, and 9 of the drawings. This brakeshoe is of familiar construction, comprising a body portion having upon its back the usual end lugs and central retaining-clip. Each pair of mold-sections is adapted to form one of these brake-shoes. As shown in Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, each of the mold-sections H is formed with a cavity it, having a central recessed part 71., adapted to receive a sandcore [L2, that enables the hole to be formed in the back clip of the brake-shoe. The opposite section H at each pair of molds is formed with a recess it, the curved face of which is faced with a layer of refractory material /1/, adapted to retard the chilling of certain parts of the wearing-face of the brake-shoe. (See dotted outline in Figs. 9" and 9".) The moldsection H is formed at the ends of its cavity [L3 with openings adapted to receive the projecting bars if at the ends of the cavity ll. of the mold-section H. Hence it will be seen by reference more particularly to Figs. 3, 4, and 8 of the drawings that when each pair of mold-sections H and H are brought together the cavities upon their working faces will correspond in outline to the brake-shoe to be cast. Each of the mold-sections H and H is provided upon its working face and above its cavity with a depression a, adapted to form part of the pouring-duct through which fluid metal will bedelivered to the mold, this pouring-duct being preferably long and narrow, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Likewise each of the mold-sections is shown as formed with a depression transverse to the pouring-d uct la, this depression forming a channel b leading through one end of the mold when its sections are in closed position. At the opposite side of the pouring-duct la. the mold-sections are provided with suitable vent-channels 713*, that lead through the ends of the mold-sections, the open ends of the channels lb of one section being adapted to coincide with the open ends of the channel l1 of the next adjacent sections. Preferably the vent ducts or channels A. are somewhatexpanded, as shown in Figs. 5 and (5, so as to freely allow for the more effective venting of the gases, &c., from the mold-sections, and the vent channels or ducts It are shown as connected with the cavities of the molds by a num ber of smaller channels it, although obviously, if desired, a single connecting channel it might be employed. It will be seen that the expanded cavity it has its exit-port constricted, so that if molten metal should rise through the channels 72, into the cavity its the constricted exit-port of this cavity will insure the chilling of such metal, and so'check its passage therethrough. The purpose of the expanded cavity If is to allow for the compression of that portion of the air'or gases forced through the casting-cavity by the fluid metal and which cannot escape as rapidly through the constricted exit-port of the cavity 72, as it is admitted to said cavity by the channel it. While it is preferred to'form the pouring and vent ducts partially in the working face of each moldsection H and H, it is manifest that these ducts might be formed entirely in the working face of one mold-section only, the working face of the opposite mold-section simply serving to close these ducts.

In the construction of parts as thus far defined it will be seen thatif fluid metal be placed within the stationary hopper R it'will pass through the channels 1 at the bottom of the hopper into the pouring-ducts 71 of the molds as they are brought successively beneath the hopper, The molds are advanced beneath the hopper by means of the drive-pinion J, that engages the racks g upon the bottoms of the mold-carriers Gr. By reference to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that as the mold-sections and theircarriers pass around the front drums D in the direction'of the arrows the guide-extensions g of the mold-carriers will be engaged by the edges of the guides E, thereby causing the working faces of the mold-sections to properly approach each other, and thus insure the accurate entry of the projections if of the mold-sections H into the end seats of the opposite mold-sections H. As the moldcarriers G pass the guides E they enter between the upper and lower bars N and O and pass beneath the cover-plates P. 2, 3, and A.) will thus fit more securely together during the casting operation, and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that as the mold-sections pass beneath the hopper and the cover-plates the vent-duct of each mold-section communicates with the interior of the next succeeding moldsection. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that with the mold-sections in the relation to the pouring-hopper there shown metal will pass through the pouringduct of the mold-section beneath the front portion of the hopper into the cavity of the mold, while gas, &c., will pass from the moldcavity being filled through the vent-duct 7L8 into the cross-channel it and pouring-duct if of the next succeeding mold-section, and from this last-mentioned mold-section the gas, &c.,

(See Figs. The mold-sections H and H" :will escape through the next following mold to the atmosphere. I regard the feature of the gases and heat incident to the admission of the metal to one mold pass to the succeeding mold or molds it preheats such molds and better adapts them for receiving their charge of molten metal. After the molds have been filled by their passage beneath the dischargeopening of the hopper R their sections will be held together by the upper and lower guidebars and their pouring-ducts closed by the cover-plates while the molds are traveling a sufficient distance to allow the fluid metal to set. It will of course be understood that the guide-bars N and O and the entire apparatus will be made of suflioient length for this purpose.

against the hydraulic pressure of the metal in the hopper reacting backward through the channels If and ducts 7L8 and 71, on the molds which have been filled. Preferably the channel 7L and the adjacent small end of the ventduct lb are made as small as possible for venting, so that the metal in them soon becomes chilled and shuts off the pressure from the hopper. As the mold-sections pass from the guide-bars N and O and are carried around their respective drums D at the rear end of the machine the finished castings will be discharged from the molds. The mold-sections then return along the guide-bars a Inorderto coattheworkingfacesofthe moldsections with suitable protecting material, (preferably a thin mixture of clay and water, I provide means whereby a spray of such mate-' rial may be projected against the working faces of the mold-sections without arresting their movement. Preferably the means employed consist of spray-nozzles S, arranged at each side of the machine opposite. the mold-sections, these spray-nozzles being provided with delivery-pipes 8, whereby the protecting fluid will be supplied thereto. As shown, each of the spray-nozzles is arranged within a hood An important function of the cover-- 'plate is to retain the fluid metal in the mold IIO T, that is bolted, as at t, to the angle-bars a,

sections as they pass in front of the hoods.

The mold-sections H and H, hereinbefore described, are made each in one piece, of suitable material to be machined, fitted with bolts 9 and mounted on carriers G, and also &

suitable for all or a portion of the working face of the mold. I prefer, however, a construction of mold which permits me to use either a metal or a refractory material in the working faces of the molds and to renew the same readily without again incurring the expense incidental to its mounting on the carrier. The preferred construction of moldsection is that illustrated in Figs. 11 to 17 of the drawings. As shown in these figures, each mold-section comprises a metal shell or backing-plate 2, to which the corresponding working-face section will be attached, as next described. Each shell or backing-plate 2 is formed with one or more holes 3 extending therethrough, with end and bottom flanges 4 and 5 and with seats or depressions 6. The mold-sections or working faces H and H are each formed upon their backs with lugs h adapted to enter the holes 3 in the corresponding backing plate 2, with projections a adapted to enter the seat Got the backingplate and with parts adapted to interlock with the end and bottom flanges of the backingplate, as clearly shown in the drawings. In order to firmly unite each mold-face section to its corresponding backing plate or shell, fluid metal [L12 (having materially lower melting-point than that of the shell or mold section, such as zinc) will be run between each mold-face section and shell, as shown in the drawings, this metal serving to securely unite the mold -face sections to their respective backing plates or shells. The mold-face sections H and H may be made of cast metal or of refractory material already molded and hardened prior to its setting in the mold. It will be obvious that these working-face sections may also be made with a combination of metal and refractory material, as in the present instance, where the mold-face section H is provided with an inlaid layer of refractory material if for the purpose already specified. The shells or backing-plates 2 are fitted with bolts 9 whereby they are attached to the carriers G. A material advantage incident to this construction is that in case of wear or breakage of any of the mold-face sections it can be easily removed from its shell or backing-plate by merely melting out the metal that unites it thereto, after which a new mold-section can be substituted. The

- cavities, pouring-ducts, and vent-ducts of the tion of the plate opposite the pouring-ducts of the molds.

2. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, each of said molds being provided with a pouring-duct and with a ventduct, the vent-duct of each mold con'nnunicating with the next succeeding mold.

3. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, each mold consisting of separable sections having" pouring and vent ducts, the vent-duct of each mold being arranged to communicate with the main cavity of the next succeeding mold.

4. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, having pouring-ducts and vent-ducts, the vent-duct of each mold communicating, when the said mold in position to receive its charge, with the cavity of the next succeeding mold, a hopper for delivering a charge of metal to said molds, and a cover for said molds extending a sullicient distance in front of said hopper to close the pouring-duct of the mold next following the mold immediately beneath the hopper.

5. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, each having, when in juxtaposition to each other and in readiness to receive its charge, a pouring-duct leading from the exterior into its cavity and ducts for connecting its cavity with that of the next adjacent mold; a hopper for delivering a charge of metal direct to said molds; and a cover for the pouring-ducts of the adjacent molds which have been filled.

6. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, each mold consisting of separable sections having pouring and vent ducts in the partings between the sections, and having channels leading from the pouringducts through the ends of the molds, in position to communicate with the vent-ducts of the next adjacent mold.

7. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, a stationary plate adapttal to close successively the pouring-openings of one or more of said movable molds, a vessel for containing the fluid metal, having an open bottom leading through said plate into the path of travel of the pouring-ducts of the molds, whereby the molds are filled as they are brought successively in line with said open bottom, said mold being provided with means whereby the cavity of the mold being filled may be vented into the cavity of the next succeeding mold.

8. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, each having a pouring-duct for admitting metal to its cavity, and each provided with a vent-channel leading from said cavity, said channel being formed with constricted inlet and outlet ports and having an expanded portion to receive the air and gases forced from the main cavity of the mold.

9. In casting apparatus, a mold comprising a metal shell or backing, a working-face section carried thereby, and an intermediate binder of easily-fusible material uniting said working-face section to said shell.

10. In casting apparatus, a mold comprising a metal shell or backing, a working-face section carried thereby, and an intermediate binder of fusible metal uniting said workingface section to said shell. 7

11. Acasting apparatus, comprising a series of movable molds and traveling carriers for said molds, said molds each comprising a metal shell or backing, a working-face section carried by said shell or backing, and an intermediate binder of easily-fusible material uniting each of said working-face sections to its shell.

12. Acasting apparatus comprisinga series of movable molds each formed of separable sections provided with projections and recesses, oppositely-disposed endless chains on which said mold-sections are pivotally supported, drums for driving said chains, and means for guiding the opposing faces of the mold-sections into substantial parallelism as the mold-sections approach each other to receive the charge of metal.

13. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds each formed of separable sections provided with projections and recesses, a series of individual mold-carriers for said mold-sections, two endless chains to the links of Which said mold-carriers are pivotally connected, supporting-drums for said moldcarrier chains, guide-bars for holding said mold-carriers together when in position to receive their charge of molten metal, and guides adjacent said drums for guiding the opposing faces of the mold-sections into substantial parallelism as said mold-sections approach each other to receive the charge of metal.

14:. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds, each comprising separable sections, individual mold-carriers for said sepl arable sections, two oppositely disposed chains to which said mold-carriers are pivotally connected, a stationary hopper for delivering the fluid metal to the molds, guidebars for holding the molds while passing beneath said hopper, drums for sustaining said removable chains, and cam-shaped guides arranged adjacent the chain-supporting drums at the front end of the machine for directing the movement of the mold-carriers as the mold-sections approach each other.

15. A casting apparatus comprising aseries of movable molds formed of separable sections, two oppositely-disposed sets of individual mold-carriers for said sections, said moldcarriers being provided with rack-bars and a driving-pinion arranged to engage with the rack-bars of both sets of individual mold-carriers, and serving to impart movement to said mold-carriers.

16. A casting apparatus comprising a series of movable molds formed of separable sections, two sets of individual mold-carriers for said sections, said individual mold -carriers being provided with parallel and adjacent rack-bars, two, endless chains to the links of which said mold-carriers are connected, supporting-drums for said mold-carrier chains, and a driving-pinion engaging the rack-bars of said mold-carriers and serving to impart movement thereto.

17. A casting apparatus comprising the com-' terial against the Vertical working faces of the molds and a hood arranged about said spray and adjacent the-path of the mold.

WILLIAM S. WESTON.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. FISHER, J r., FRED GERLACH. 

